Overly calls for more investigations into shredding; Leaders to meet about replacing Sherman at LRC

In the wake of the resignation and document shredding by the former director of the Legislative Research Commission, legislative leaders are calling for more specific investigations and a meeting to outline how to replace Bobby Sherman as LRC director.

Legislative leaders of both parties have called for a special meeting of the Legislative Research Commission on Oct. 2 to search for a leader of the commission amidst sexual allegations against yet another lawmaker.

The Lexington Herald-Leader first reported the call to fill the leadership void left by Sherman. Currently, the LRC has four deputy directors. And none “have acutal authority to take over,” according to a letter signed by Republican Senate President Robert Stivers, Democratic Senate Leader R.J. Palmer and Republican House Leader Jeff Hoover. House Speaker Greg Stumbo later sent a statement saying he, too, agreed.

“I think it is a good idea. We need to appoint an interim acting director and lay the groundwork for conducting the search for a replacement director,” Stumbo said in a statement.

Later Friday, Rep. Sannie Overly, D-Paris, the House Democratic Caucus chairman, sent a letter to members of the Legislative Research Commission calling for further investigations into document shredding by Sherman.

Overly wants to know how Sherman gained access to his former office after his resignation on Sept. 20 and whether his office ID badge had already been deactivated.

She also said the LRC should demand a detailed description of what documents were destroyed and find out if any of the documents had handwritten notes which could not be duplicated through copies.

Overly also wants the group to look into how employees may have helped Sherman access LRC offices and if disciplinary action should be taken.

The Kentucky State Police have confirmed that they are also investigating whether Sherman broke any laws when he returned to his office to shred documents after he was employed with the commission.

About Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics, the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like the connection between the high profile Steubenville, Ohio rape and a Kentucky hacker whose push for further investigation could put him in federal prison. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickStorm_cn2. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.